EDUCATION
Instructor : Laura Briggs
Site : Tillinghast Place, Barrington, RI
Foldable Tetrahedrons and a Drawing Machine
(Top) The project began with the design of foldable polyhedra assembled through Velcro connections. This system allowed the geometry to remain flexible and reconfigurable, producing different spatial patterns each time the form was folded, unfolded, or rearranged.
(Bottom) The study then developed into an experiment on stability and flexibility through the act of tracing movement. Chalk was attached to the bottom of three drawing machines, allowing each attempt at assembly to leave a visible record. As the three devices searched for ways to connect, their movements revealed moments of instability, which also became evidence of the system’s flexibility.
Tessellation Studies
Building on the logic of foldable and flexible tetrahedral forms, the tessellation was developed through a 3-bar tensegrity structure. The system was suspended from both ends to test how its geometry transforms under the combined forces of gravity and tension. The model consists of two modules at different scales, each constructed from six wooden sticks(6” and 12”respectively) and rubber bands. As the modules move closer to the suspended ends, they expand more visibly, producing variations in form, while the central modules remain closer to their original geometric configuration.
A Foldable Stie Model
The site model was developed as an extension of the earlier research, translating the logic of foldable tetrahedral forms and their tessellation into a topographic study. The contours of the site were reorganized diagonally and folded in multiple directions, allowing the model to be fully unfolded or collapsed through a continuous folding system. Each paper element is anchored at both ends, recalling the suspended condition of the tessellation model. The resulting gaps allow light to enter from multiple directions, creating a dynamic interplay between illumination and the folded surfaces. The trees were fixed with removable tape so their positions could remain adjustable throughout the design process.
RISD Nature Lab
Located between the green space and RISD Beach, the RISD Nature Lab is designed to hold two spatial qualities within one building. As visitors move through the building and gradually descend along the sloped ramp toward the beach, they pass through wet workspaces and aquarium areas, allowing the program to unfold through movement. The ramps provide multiple choices for circulation, moving both upward and downward in response to the sloped site. Their geometry reflects the logic of previous folding studies, transforming the topography into an introverted and folded interior landscape. Through this sequence, the building allows visitors to experience a spatial condition of compression, expansion, and gradual transition. The roof structure further enhances and highlights its volumetric depth by rising and descending in relation to the ramp system below. Constructed with hemp and plywood, the roof structure expresses the spatial relationship between compression and expansion through its form.
Drawings